Wildlife photography along the urban edge

Cape Dune Molerat: cutting edge equipment.

Note the ‘built for purpose’ extended digging claws and the very interesting arrangement of teeth. The lower extend into two strong lifting and cutting apparatus, the upper are used for grasping. Think biomimicry: a combination fork-lift and grappling tool.

A strong tail, used for counterbalance and anchoring.
Extracting plants for the larder.

Molescape, showing the neat ‘mole-dunes’ and example of a flourishing colony of earth excavators.

For the past couple of weeks the Cape has been stormlashed by severe low pressure systems which brought torrential rain. Yesterday was our first sunny day and many homeowners were assessing damage – flooding in parts and roof cave-ins were two issues for the colony of Dune Molerats. It’s not often that one is lucky to glimpse these shy and reticent creatures, but here in broad daylight i discovered a very determined forager filling up the larder. The best way of describing the scene would be a gardener rearranging plantbeds. In went the undercutters loosening the soil below, down came the upper gnashers raking the prize plant, then reversing backwards down the hole to stash the haul. New heaps were in evidence – wet, well-piled soil. In a previous post i wrote about the connections and the cycle of mole soil with the delights of sandbathing.

Hi Sid, yes, they’re adapted to subterranean dwelling and have poor eyesight although they can discrimnate between light and dark. There are no external ear pinnae but they have good hearing. Here on the peninusla predators include snakes, caracal, raptors (and man!) and elsewhere, jackals and honey badgers.

Welcome!

Meet the wild creatures living along the urban edge at the southern end of the Cape Peninsula (Cape Town) South Africa. From African penguins at Boulders Beach to the smallest of mammals, the rare Pygmy mouse; daily visitors include mongoose, porcupine, genet, otters, and dassies. Shy caracal (lynx) keep a low profile but fulfill the role of predator. Not least are the charismatic Chacma baboons, a dynamic part of the urban edge fauna. The backdrop is the rich floral heritage of the Cape Floral Kingdom including fabulous bird and insect species.